The “KelRide” project is entering its final phase and expanding its connected operating area. The existing fleet of autonomous shuttles will be expanded to include five autonomous vehicles from EasyMile. From January 2024, the vehicles will be used flexibly on a 30-kilometer road network in the district of Kelheim. This will create the largest contiguous coverage of highly automated public transport in Europe to date.
Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing: “Autonomous transport services are the ideal complement to the Deutschlandticket. The autonomous on-demand shuttle arrives exactly when one needs it and, as a feeder to the train and regional bus, enables a flexible switch to public transport. We are looking to collaborate with municipalities and transport companies that are open to innovation in order to test and further develop new forms of mobility in real-life operations. The “KelRide” project shows that autonomous shuttles also have a future in rural areas. With an operational area of 30 kilometers, the district of Kelheim is setting new standards for the operation of highly automated shuttles in Germany and Europe.“
Gilbert Gagnaire, CEO of consortium leader EasyMile: “New mobility services such as highly automated on-demand services can offer passengers more flexibility, relieve road congestion and reduce emissions. In order to ensure reliable availability even in harsh weather conditions, the “KelRide” project under EasyMile’s consortium leadership has successfully focused on the development of a weather-independent, autonomous shuttle service in public transport over the past three years. We are very proud of the consortium’s results.”
To improve the all-weather capability of the shuttles, the project focused on the implementation of sensor technologies and adaptive software solutions. These developments were successfully validated and received approval for operation in public spaces. Moreover, traffic simulations are an integral part of the project to contribute to optimization and improved traffic use.
In the final project phase, which will last until the end of June 2024, the solutions developed will be tested in real-life conditions. This period will make it possible to evaluate the performance and reliability of the technology, particularly during the winter months. In addition, the transport benefits of the service will be analyzed and user acceptance assessed in order to gain comprehensive insights for the further development and possible applications of the technology.
The project is being carried out by a consortium consisting of EasyMile (consortium leader), TÜV Rheinland, Via and P3 Group as well as the district of Kelheim and the Technical University of Berlin.
The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport with a total of 9.93 million euros.
Further information can be found on the project website www.kelride.com and www.bmdv.bund.de.
(Info: EasyMile)
